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Neville explains why Chelsea are not in the title race

The Blues beat Aston Villa comfortably on Sunday to move level on points with Arsenal. The London rivals now boast an identical record after 13 games, also level on wins, draws, losses, goals scored and conceded.

It is a start to the season that few predicted for Chelsea, while the Gunners were heavily tipped to again compete for the title - and even, by Neville, to win it.

Despite their similar positions in the table with more than a third of the season played, Neville insists that Chelsea cannot be considered in a title race and likely won't be for the rest of the season.

Chelsea are doing really well so well done to the manager for bringing that level of calmness to the club

Gary Neville

"It feels too early for Chelsea, that’s why I don’t put them level with Arsenal even though they’re on the same number of points," Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.

"It doesn’t feel like Chelsea will go on and win it. I still think it’s going to be Arsenal if anyone does catch Liverpool. But Chelsea are having a fantastic season. Maresca has got stability there which has been hard to find recently.

"So well done to them, I watched bits of them [against Villa]. The Cole Palmer goal was absolutely brilliant, absolutely wonderful."

He added: "Chelsea are doing really well so well done to the manager for bringing that level of calmness to the club because it’s been mad and chaotic over the last few seasons.

"For the first time in a while it feels like it’s settled down, so well done to Maresca and well done to the players. The owners will feel a little bit more calm at this moment in time. But I don’t feel that they’re in the title race, I don’t sense that really."

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